Book Reviews of RETIREMEANT – get more meaning from your money

Foreword: Mitch Antony

“What lies before us and what lies behind us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”

American physician and poet, Oliver Wendell Holmes

Retirement is a merging point like no other. It is where the horizontal equator of personal means crosses the vertical axis of personal meaning. The difficulty and impact of this crossing are difficult to exaggerate. I view this crossroad as one of three existential crossroads in life: the first is graduating from school and wondering what to do; the second is questioning one’s career choice in mid-life; and the third is when we come to “graduating” from a career in general – this idea called retirement.

In the traditional retirement discussion, much more consideration has been given to your place on the horizontal line of material means and not nearly enough to the vertical axis of discovering. But that is changing. There are many forms of capital to consider in the retirement equation and only one of them is material in nature. There is your intellectual capital, your experiential capital, your relational capital and your spiritual capital. “How will you invest who you are?” is the most important question you can answer in regards to retirement. I often tell people that the right time to “retire” is on the expiration date of their intellectual and experiential capital. When you no longer desire to keep it current, it’s time to move on to the next act.

People struggle with this transition and for good reason. It is an unnatural transition in the course of life. It is not an organic transition like growing up, getting educated, having a family, etc. It is a manmade, institutionalised construct imposed upon our working cultures for the past 130 years and, in my opinion, has run its course. Retirement today at 62 or 65 is nothing more than an artificial finish line that we have every right to run right past or to jog completely around, if we so desire. Those age-markers – invented in times when people retired at 62 and died at 64 – have no significant relevance for the age we live in today.

Today the most pressing question as one approaches the retirement stage of life is not how much life you have left but how much life you have left in you. The answer to that question is complex. To answer the question requires a thorough inventory of what is in you. This process may require an MRI of your soul: illuminating your wiring, your experience, your lessons gathered, your aspirations, and ultimately, your purpose for the time ahead. This book, for you, can be that MRI.

There are plenty of thinkers on this planet and there are plenty of doers. I know my fair share of both. I know very few, however, who have successfully amalgamated the two. I know very few people like Kim Potgieter. On second thought, I don’t know anyone quite like Kim. She’s an inimitable persona with an indefatigable level of curiosity regarding what makes life work. Kim is a thinker and a doer.

Kim and her business partners came to the US and spent an unforgettable week with me exploring and discussing Financial Life Planning, The New Retirementality, Return on Life, and other ideas that have been a big part of my life’s work. A year later she arranged for me to come to South Africa to introduce these concepts. In the years since, Kim has continued to study, refine and facilitate money/life discussions and has become one of, if not the best, retirement coaches on this planet. I’m continually amazed and thrilled at the work she has been doing.

I’ve never met anyone who cares as much about the money/life dialogue as Kim does. She has literally travelled the world to glean every bit of insight and wisdom she can gather on the topic. She is relentless in her quest to make the discussion better, more meaningful, more lasting – and more impactful. This book is evidence of her quest. I love Kim’s insatiable appetite for what is meaningful. And I love what she is bringing to you the reader. She’s not talking at you, she’s living it and sharing it with you.

If you want the optimum life dividend out of your retirement years, I would suggest becoming Kim’s client. If that’s not possible, then my next best suggestion is to read this book, which you are doing. And I assume that you’re reading this book because you know there’s an awful lot of life left in you.

Author, Speaker, Financial services advisor

Andrew Bradley

Kim tells a very personal and powerful story of discovery. She has truly experienced the reality of what is needed to change your mind set to get new perspectives. She is an incredible person, with a unique breadth and depth of knowledge and experience, with an unwavering desire to live her passion and purpose. In the book she shares her own story and also shows us how she works with her clients so that they can get the same meaning out of their life. Reading the book will help you in the same way.

Director Fiscal Private Client Services

Miranda Isaakidis

I initially resisted attending a financial life planning meeting … I was not convinced that the process would interest me, or that it would be relevant to my life. Having spent some time in just such a meeting with Kim, I see it is about much more than checking a balance sheet.Relating my money to my life and my goals has been a freeing and energising experience, and I feel empowered to be involved in the family’s financial planning. I now see the success of my business as a means to buy my villa in Greece, among my many dreams to be fulfilled.

Chartered client and business-owner

Dorianne Weil “DR D”

Our relationship with money permeates our lives and needs to be continually addressed. Money either enables or limits the fulfilment of our goals, hopes, dreams and aspirations and this is especially true in retirement. Kim Potgieter, with her psychological understanding and her coaching skills, together with her certified financial planner qualification, takes us on a journey, in which we recognise not only the obstacles but indeed the endless opportunities offered by retirement – provided we can change our perspective!

Of course money is important; however, it is but one aspect of life. I invite you to use the skills and practical exercises in this book as invaluable tools to assist in identifying and achieving your dreams and goals.

Clinical Psychologist, Radio and TV Talk Show host

Dorian Mintzer

“Retiremeant is a must-read for everyone wondering “What’s next?” in life. Kim Potgieter, a Certified Financial Planner and lover of life, uses the kaleidoscope as a metaphor for growth and change. Kim provides a holistic approach to financial life planning. In an engaging conversational style, she shares her own and other’s stories, offers terrific exercises and tips and invites you to explore what’s important to you so you can add the ‘A’ to your RetiremeAnt – enabling your money to help you retire to a life of meaning and fulfilment.”

Ph.D., BCC, Retirement, Money and Relationship Coach and co-author of The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Creating an Amazing New Life Together

Colleen-Joy Page

Everyone over the age of 35 should read this book – it’s such a lovely mix of personal heart, expert advice and practical how to!Kim presents a definitive heartfelt guide to making sure that your retirement is both meaningful and rich. This book is shaped around Kim’s invaluable contribution to modern wealthy retirement – filled with inspiring true client stories, practical insights,”how-to” advice, and most importantly “heart”!

You are in expert hands. Kim has studied with some of the world’s leading retirement and financial planning experts, to bring you everything you need to know to plan your retirement successfully. She also adds her wealth of knowledge as a leading, respected, wealth retirement specialist.

Roberta K. Taylor

Kim’s wisdom and professional experience make Retirement: Get the most meaning for your Money, a “must read.” Both practical and creative, Kim’s work challenges you to go beyond what you already know to possibilities that you may never before have imagined. Her kaleidoscope metaphor is perfect for imagining the shifts that could bring to you your plan for a most fulfilling life!

Retirement Transition Coach and Co-author of The Couple’s Retirement Puzzle: 10 Must-Have Conversations for Creating an Amazing New Life Together.

Lionel Karp CFP®

I have been a financial planner for many years and always prided myself on understanding my clients’ needs. It was a unique experience to be on the other side of the process, when Kim helped my wife, Bev, and me, tackle our procrastination regarding a decision to emigrate to Australia, to join our children and grandchildren. Kim, as the only practising qualified Financial Life Planner in South Africa, was not only qualified to help us, but she also has a passion that goes beyond asking the right questions.

Kim’s compassion and insight enabled Bev and I to express how we actually felt: desperate to move, frightened to commit to the reality. I am of the firm belief that Kim’s methodology is the only way forward: looking after your wealth and taking your lifestyle into account.

To fulfil the tapestry of your own personal financial and lifestyle kaleidoscope, this must-read book will challenge you as the patterns of your life change for the better.

Thank you for reading my blogs and following my social media content this year. If there are any specific topics you would like to read about in 2019, please let me know and I will add it to our blog content for next year. Happy holiday’s! Kim … See MoreSee Less

Kim has presented regularly at the various Fundhouse Practice Management Programmes over the past 5 years. read more

Rob McDonald, Fundhouse

I now have a sense of urgency to evaluate my financial portfolio and work with the right professionals. I need help taking emotion out of my financial decisions.

Kim has presented regularly at the various Fundhouse Practice Management Programmes over the past 5 years. read more

Rob McDonald, Fundhouse

I now have a sense of urgency to evaluate my financial portfolio and work with the right professionals. I need help taking emotion out of my financial decisions.

I learned who I am and what my relationship with money is. I had a huge mind shift towards money

Kim inspired me to do a whole lot of introspection and has empowered me with skills to understand my life’s journey with money and how it affects my finances.

Highly empowering in coaxing me to think more about my life in general, what my relationship with money is and how it all affects my financial decisions.

“I am a reluctant reader of non-fiction, particularly of the self-help genre. Give me a good murder, an array of suspects, and a denoue´ment in which the villain is unmasked by the eccentric detective, Christie-style.”So, it was with some trepidation that I approached Retiremeant: Get more meaning from your money (not the least because I am, of course, decades away from that event!). read more

Kim Forbes, Writer, Chartered Wealth Solutions

I have just finished proofing your book and have enjoyed it immensely – congratulations. I am sure it is going to be very well received. read more

Jenny Prangley, Senior Editor, Jacana Publishers

An increadible book with great insight!”You see that you are not the only one who can add an A to your titles, Kim! read more

Robbie Hotz, Chartered Wealth Solutions client

Kim’s book is about how to prepare for, and live, a successful retirement. Retirement is not the end, but rather, the beginning of a new life stage. read more

Caroline Adams

I took your book on holiday with me. I have so enjoyed it – so many scenarios I can relate to. My friend I bought one for was very pleased with his signed copy. read more

Pauline Wager

I thoroughly enjoyed reading RETIREMEANT: Get more meaning from your money. read more

Kim Browne co-founder Twisted Toast Digital

Kim, your Reach for a Dream initiative is magnificent – it is wonderful that your book will make dreams of people at both sides of the age spectrum come true: children and retirees. read more